TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Democratic Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker and Republican Steve Lonegan (LON'-uh-guhn) will face off in an October special U.S. Senate election after winning their parties' primaries.

Booker easily defeated three other experienced Democrats who were seeking to fill the final 15 months of the term of Democrat Frank Lautenberg (LOW'-tuhn-burg), who died in June.

Lonegan is a former mayor of Bogota (bah-GOT'-tah). He beat a political neophyte to win his primary. It's his first statewide primary victory in three attempts.

Lonegan is blunt and running on an anti-tax platform. Booker is a rising star nationally among Democrats and styles himself as someone willing to work with political adversaries.

The election is Oct. 16.

Critics say Republican Gov. Chris Christie scheduled the primaries and special election to avoid being on the same November ballot as Booker. Christie denies that.

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